Yesterday, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, concluded a 3-day trip across Canada to exchange views with the international development sector and to meet with Canadian community groups, private sector companies and philanthropic organizations. The purpose of the trip was to strengthen partnerships with a diversity of Canadian stakeholders in Vancouver, British Columbia; Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario; and Windsor, Ontario, on the goals and impact of Canada's international development assistance.
In Vancouver, Minister Hussen reaffirmed the Government of Canada's commitment to build on gains achieved in human rights, especially women's and girls' rights, democratic governance and the rule of law abroad, with the support of local member of Parliament Dr Hedy Fry. The Minister echoed the $4.6 million in funding announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Canada Summit in Ottawa on October 18, 2023, for the Justice Education Society of British Columbia's (JES's) Judicial Strengthening Program for Gender-based Violence (GVB) in the Eastern Caribbean.
In Kitchener-Waterloo, Minister Hussen was joined by Bardish Chagger, Member of Parliament for Waterloo, for a tour of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Idea Factory, a first-of-its-kind collaborative incubator helping entrepreneurs tackle the world's most pressing challenges. There, the Minister announced more than $11.9 million in new funding for the Opportunities for Circular and Inclusive Diversification in Agriculture (OCIDA) project in Honduras, a project implemented by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) that will address poverty, climate risks, and gender inequalities through diversification and improvements in sustainable agricultural production.
In Windsor, Minister Hussen was joined by Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh, to announce $9.9 million in new funding for the Training and Workplace Advancement Solutions for Opportunities in the Labour Force (TAWASOL) project in Iraq. TAWASOL will be implemented by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and Canadian Leaders in International Consulting, to improve alignment between the skills training provided at vocational and educational institutions and the demands of the private sector, while also strengthening the transition from education to meaningful employment for youth.
